John Lin of Hollidaysburg, Pennsylvania, will be honored as the student marshal for the Eberly College of Science during Penn State University's summer commencement ceremonies on Saturday, Aug. 13, on the University Park campus. Lin's faculty escort for the commencement exercises will be Gong Chen, professor of biology and the Verne M. Willaman Chair in Life Sciences at Penn State.
Lin will graduate with a 3.87 grade point average and a bachelor of science degree in biology with a minor in history. He was a Schreyer Honors College Scholar and a member of the dean's list for every semester at Penn State. He was a recipient of the Penn State Provost's Award from 2013 to 2015, the Schreyer Honors College Academic Excellence Scholarship from 2013 to 2016, the Eberly College of Science Edward C. Hammond Jr. Memorial Scholarship from 2015 to 2016, and a Schreyer Honors College Summer Service Grant in 2016.
While at Penn State, Lin conducted research in Chen's laboratory examining the potential use of liver-specific transcription factors -- genes that control when and how other genes are expressed in a cell -- for liver-cancer therapy. The goal of the research is to use transcription factors that are delivered by viruses to stop cancer proliferation and reduce the expression of cancer-specific biomarkers. Through his research experience, Lin learned to culture cancer cell lines, prepare buffers and other reagents needed for the experiments, and use fluorescent staining to see and measure the expression level of transcription factors inside cells. "Although the research was difficult at first, we are making progress," said Lin. "My only regret in graduating is the end of my involvement with this cutting-edge research."
In addition to his academic achievements, Lin was a member of the Theta Chi fraternity where he was actively involved in the Penn State IFC/Panhellenic Council Dance Marathon (THON), a student-run philanthropy committed to enhancing the lives of children and families impacted by cancer. Lin served THON by working on the Rules and Regulations committee in 2013-14, the OPPerations committee in 2014-15, and the Hospitality committee in 2015-16. He also was the THON Chair for the Theta Chi fraternity for THON 2015. He also participated in a Medlife Medical Service Trip to Peru in the summer of 2016 and was a mentor for Asian American Students in Action, a student group that helps Asian and Pacific Islander Americans who are new to Penn State by pairing them with high-achieving mentors.
"I was overwhelmed with excitement and very honored," said Lin about being selected as student marshal. "I even made sure to ask the person notifying me if they got the correct person. But in the end, I was absolutely ecstatic and couldn’t stop smiling and telling friends and family about the good news."
Following graduation, Lin plans to spend a year expanding his medical experiences by working in basic, clinical, or translational research and volunteering. He also hopes to travel to China to visit relatives before attending medical school starting in 2017.
"During my short time here at Penn State, I was grateful for all the opportunities that the university offered, especially through the Schreyer Honors College," said Lin. "I felt fully supported by the University in whatever endeavors I wanted to undertake. Through the numerous courses and diverse exposures, I believe my college experience has molded me into the kind of person I am today and provided the vision for what I want to be in the future. I am proud to be a graduate from Penn State."
Lin, a graduate of Hollidaysburg Area Senior High School, will be accompanied at commencement by is mother, Sherry S. Zhang; his father, Daniel Y. Lin; and his brother, Jack L. Lin.
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